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Why I went to Oceti Sakowin https://thelifeofmy8.wordpress.com/2016/12/11/why-i-went-to-oceti-sakowin/
https://thelifeofmy8.wordpress.com/2016/12/11/why-i-went-to-oceti-sakowin/#respondSun, 11 Dec 2016 02:42:19 +0000http://thelifeofmy8.wordpress.com/2016/12/11/why-i-went-to-oceti-sakowin/Continue reading Why I went to Oceti Sakowin ]]>I wasn’t sure what the call was when I got it one evening while watching a Facebook video that popped up on my newsfeed.
What I did know is I had to do something.
Against all odds, we headed out from Cedar Creek lake, with four of our children and a trailer loaded down, ready to stand with Standing Rock.
Along the way, we continued to research what was behind all the #nodapl and #waterislife hashtags, only to find a Revolution of ideas, that carry back farther then any European settler has ever been here, was in the midst.

What I found in the hashtags was more then I ever even thought to imagine. The depth of history that unfolded in the following days and I am sure, will continue for the rest of my life, was humbling, to say the very least.
For those that do not realize, American history as we know it, based on what is taught in our schools, and via the mainstream media’s lack of publication on what is happening as we speak, is founded on a one sided “truth” of sorts.
America was not founded, it was taken.

Taken by the very people who came here to colonize our nation from the people who had already been here for a very long time.
If you want more history on that,http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-shocking-savagery-of-americas-early-history-22739301/
Maybe even read the book it references.
What else I found was appalling.
Our own government “gave” the Natives “public land” to live on called reservations. Those transactions were called treaties. Treaties mean per the merriam-webster dictionary 1. The action of treating and especially of negotiation and 2. an agreement or arrangement made by negotiations and a document in which such a contract is set down and the legal definintion of this type of a contract made between two or more independent nations is a view to the public.
The first treaty that was made was signed a bit over a year after the Articles of Confederations were, on September 17, 1778 at Fort Pitt or modern day Pittsburg. That treaty was done to preserve the “Peace and friendship” with the Indians.
Following that, more then 500 treaties were signed! Several years saw none and some years saw as many as 4 or more! All of which, oddly enough, were broken by our own government that is supposed to protect its people.
See avalon.law.ale.edu for some or en.m.wikepedia.org, for a full list which is almost overwhelming just to read.
That is not to mention the one that is by our own government, at ourdocuments.gov! The Treaty of Fort Laramie in 1868 says on the website that “The history of Native Americans in North America dates back thousands of years. Exploration and settlement of the United States by Americans and Europeans wreaked havoc on the Indian peoples living there” Also stating later that the “American drive for expansion clashed violently with the Native Americans resolve to preserve their lands, sovereignty, and ways of life.” For those that do not know, a sovereign state, which is what some federally recognized tribes have, is, per civilrights.org, states that there are over 562 tribes that are federally recognized, that give a “government-to-government” relationship between the federal government and the tribe” They are considered “Domestic dependent nations” but still have a “right to govern themselves.”
That means, that the sovereign nations, as it is called, is a true nation with their own independence. That the government has all but declared war on since the beginning of our, as “white peoples’ time here. What great “Pilgrims” we have been! In their own words, on their own government website, They say it as plain as day.

On the website, also government, history.state.gov, states very clearly that “the United States government used treaties as one means to displace Indians from their tribal lands, a mechanism that was stregthened with the Removal act of 1830”https://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/Indian.html
But what saddens me further, is it goes on to admit its failing to follow their own placed treaties, saying, “In cases where this failed, the government sometimes violated both treaties and supreme court rulings to facilitate the spread of European Americans westward across the continent”
I dont know about you readers, but something is starting to sound eerily familiar, in modern day America.
Don’t believe me? Ever heard of Sitting Bull? Too close for comfort If I am asked.https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sitting_Bull
I am angry at this point.
Standing Rock Reservation, home of what is now the biggest Sioux camp along with it’s supporters! Cannon Ball, North Dakota, is what I have to say, for lack of better words, is in the middle of history in the making. Fighting for their rights, through these treaties that are STILL in place today, in the same manner that their ancestors did, for them, now for their children who are the ones, that for a white woman like me, can and needs to recognize, are the ones we ARE borrowing this Earth from!

For me, as one white woman, I have an obligation. A responsibility to reverse this generational curse, from my ancestors, to all of our children.
With greater responsibility, comes greater consequence. A consequence that for me, am willing to commit to, and not be “as comfortable” as WE as a White Nation have become accustomed to with our blinders on.
Acknowledgment is the Key. Without Acknowledgment from our own government down to each and every one of us at home, will be even greater a consequence then if we accept our faults from not only people who we have never met in the far distant past but for ourselves here right now, in our everyday lives and what we do to realize our impact on this world.

I’ve never felt as at home as when we pulled into the Oceti Sakowin camp and were told welcome home by the water protectors signaling people into camp.
A feeling of complete peace came over me and the purpose of the trip was immediately made to be fullfilled in the blink of an eye, with my heart recognizing that the long trip, was for a purpose and had meaning.
I knew there were reasons to my madness and a reason why something inside me called for me to come.
A call that after Sunday….I couldnt ignore.

We can choose not to look, but if and when we do, we can never unsee in our minds and hearts, the truth of what we have seen.
Marcus Mitchell, traveled several states from Arizona, to get to Standing Rock, but he had a purpose too. To speak truth into the lives of the swat geared up Morton County police officers who were on the clock at the time, as well as do some trash clean up to keep the land beautiful. Literally, he was picking up the smallest pieces of trash! Keeping the land clean. Which is a purpose that the Natives hold close to their heart. To keep Mother Earth and her lifeblood, water, clean for not just them, but for all of us.
How I wish we were all more like that.
He built his home for the time at the Oceti Sakowan Camp, directly on one of the “front line’s” at Turtle Island securely on the reservation and right on the small chanel of water that separates Turtle Island from the Northeast side of the camp. Turtle Island is a sacred Indian burial site that the police state has perched on indefinitely. Subsequently, they eventually put up razor wire around to keep the descendants of the buried Natives away from what they were protecting, which is to keep everyone from getting to the drilling pad, but inadvertently keeping them from their disputed land and their burial grounds.
He self proclaimed it to be a fort, equipped with a fire and walls made of material he found, so that heat would get pushed towards the opening of his tent.
The police teased him one time about him giving them donuts, and the would bring him a coffee. Up north they don’t have donut shops on every corner like we do here, but he did find pastries. He got them some and in a noble gesture, offered them and asked for his coffee in return. He was sincere if his efforts but was met with laughs… and no coffee. In true warrior fashion had no discouragement though.
It is a great example of the love even now, being shown to the police by the majority, despite the oppression and bullying that is happening and despite the police using “non lethal” force, if you can even begin to consider, using water cannons against unarmed peaceful protesters in below freezing temperatures, non lethal. Although I can agree it may be non lethal, using ruber bullets at point blank range, anything that explodes that causes irreparable damage or anything that goes against the core of our beings to hurt another human being that IS being used against all walks of life, including elders and children, IS inhumane!
Mothers and grandmothers, telling the officers as they stood atop their sacred burial grounds at Turtle Island, that they stkll love them and will welcome them too, just like the other two officers who have already left, saying they will not stand on the side of who is doing the oppressing.

There has been so many live and regular videos swirling social media an recently small tidbits have showed up on mainstream media, but there is just not enough attention to have President Obama step in to stop the pipline, which he could do with the swift movement of a pen. He does have a very good reason to do so, EnergyTransfer Partners, is acting under the assumption that is has the permits in place, or will, to deill, so has already began oring under the water of Lake Oahe, which supplies drinking water to mllions via the Missouri River The water that flows to the lake, comes from the Missouri, Cheyenne, Moreau and Grand Rivers and is the fourth largest reservoir in the United States.
According, to EnergyTransger.com, it admits however, “The additional review process being proposed is the result of political interference from the Obama Administration. The declaratory relief Dakota Access has sought seeks to end this interference and restore the rule of law so that the pipeline can be completed” never stating which laws aren’t being upheld, or confronts the laws being broken as he continously drills under the lake, as we speak, without a permit. Which can be clearly seen on the live drone footage being showed(and filtered in some instance) on social media as well as youtube. Speculation is the truth is more on the side that it is a great possibility vs. being unfounded.

Energy transfer, a Dallas based company is owned by Kelcy Warren, a white oak native. Has said many things and had many interviews including on our own local pbs station. A quote that was quite unsettling, is his justification for his actions. He was heard to have asked, im sure rhetorically, in a recent protest that ended up at this prestigious Park Lane home In Dallas, “How the protesters got there? Drove. They couldnt even ride bikes without fossil fuels because rubber tires and composite materials are made from oil and gas products. Do you want to ride a wooden bicycle?”
I mean, by his own admission with implying with that statement alone, that there is no other option besides fossil fuels for our future, shows the lack of integrity to realize what kind of future he is leaving to his own son, who was 7 years old when the Klyde Warren park was named after him in 2009, oddly enough, his son, in part of the park being named afrer him, has to clean up trash once a month An assumption of that, even if implied, is that he cared enough about a park that represents his name.
What I personally want to know, is what is in his heart, that has a wall up so hardened, that he cannot see the plight of the Native Americans, that now, the “white man” and other non natives, have shown up in support of opposition towards his black snake as the Natives prophesy has fortold, not to mention, a huge group of veterans that are currently gathering and will be headed to North Dakota in support of this movement that is truning out to be the masses, no matter what or who is wanting to stop anyone in opposition of this pipeline that carries these outdated fossil fuels. That once gone, will be gone for many lifetimes, and has already been wrecking havoc on our planet beause of the fracking industry as a whole, amongst other things.
I hate to see how he feels about anyone else, when his piplines that have already leaked, on numerous occasions, as well as he admittd he cannot give a guarantee of no leaks in the future(pbs interview link at the bottom of the page), If he cannot seem to understand that it is his generational legacy that he is leaving for his seed as well. Will his legacy be one of a honorable mention inthe history books as the man who found his heart? Or one that found his pocket book full and his soul empty? I pray it will be what really matters in this world. His heart.
However or whatever the reason was, that got him in the position he is in right now that led him to make a seemingly greedy and unrealistic goals for the future.. a future that needs to be sustainable for our beautiful Earth.
That doesn’t even mean, Mr. Warren, let me speak directly to you in hopes you will read this one day,
It does not mean, that that change for our future, can’t start with you. You can be the change we wish to see in the world. That we NEED in this world.

I was excited to meet, a self-deploying veteran of the military named Sarag Kay Carlson, USAR, O.I.F. She and her life partner, Anne Liptak, another beautiful woman who works as a surgical technician, did as we did. Came to observe what was going on and bring supplies for the camp that they had gathered. They told me some amazing things that really opened my view of our men and women who put on the uniform. She will be returning with the larger group as well as is currently helping to coordinate the Minnesota Veterans getting to Standing Rock.
I asked her to tell me in her words, how she felt about what was going on. When I saw her response, I couldn’t help to repeat it all because it is written with her passion from her heart and her experience. A passion that can be felt throughout. Passion that comes from someone who has saw things, that most of us couldn’t imagine.
“As far as I know, I don’t think a group of Veterans have organized themselves to fight for a cause and stand up for what’s right in our country. I mean, we all do our little fundraisers and selfless service acts all the time, because that’s just who we are as people. But this; standing up for the natives of our country who have only been disrespected and abused the whole time by white/european/caucasian/assholes. We have taken over and lived on their land for centuries with no disregard for them. So, for me, that is a big reason why I want to be self-deploying veteran. To give back to our original founders and help soften all the pain and suffering that my ancestors started and continue to do.
One of the largest problem the Veterans face for self-deployment are lack of funds; most employers, co-workers, and their company understand the need for the Veteran’s support at Standing Rock and are very accommodating. The central issue, from my point of view, is that the people who have money are not the sort of people that usually act on their beliefs; and those folks that don’t have money or struggle to make ends when assembling for a better cause, end up decreasing in volume mainly due to lack of funds. I wish the actions of our society would do more then clicking “Like” or getting in a thread debate behind a screen. If folks who made almost or more then six digits a year, financially support those who will actually mobilized then we would be in a lot better shape all around. I have friends who make around $50K, can’t take the time off work, but have donated winter items and gas cards; they call and write their government leaders asking them to stop the DAPL. That makes a difference, being a cheerleader is standard, but you have improvements to make if you want to have clean water.

Another reason, why I’m self-deploying and helping to coordinate the travel for all Minnesota Veterans, is that this situation is something that needs protection. I think that having a group of past government workers who have sacrificed so much (beyond most civilians knowledge), personal who are disciplined and have experience with government conflicts says so much more. It’s yelling back in the face of our government saying, “you fucked up”, “respect a goddamn treaty for once”, “please, just be kind and respect sacred ground”. That’s really just the anger side of me. It’s so frustrating. The citizens that actually give a damn about their future will make it happen, the rest will follow, even if we have to hold their hand and show them that we can make our life, our society and how we treat each other better. By having Veterans gather from all over the nation; meeting to stand with all the tribes of our nation, along with the rest of the country (who enjoys drinking water) in solidarity is very, very powerful. I hope our message of unity for a better good for everyone pulls on the heartstrings of Kelcy Warren and the rest of the folks at Energy Transfer Partners.

But at the end of the day, the #1 reason why I’m self deploying as a USAR O.I.F. Veteran is the simple fact this Dakota Access Pipeline is only hurting everyone and only corporations gain. The 1% gains, and everyone else gets thrown under the bus. I’m disappointed in our President for not stepping up, especially after how shitty 2016 has been. I’m disgusted by how our branches of government being controlled by Wall Street rather then the people that put them into their leadership positions. I’m extremely dissatisfied with mainstream media not accurately investigating DAPL and will only get what they need to fill their two-minute story. But now that “the Vets are coming, that will get more ratings” is a ridiculous way to run an honest news source company. It’s frustrating that I have to depend on social media for current national news and then have to filter through the media outlets and fact check the information they publish. The fact that our President-Elect communicates mainly through Twitter is horrific and completely inadequate. I’m so alarmed by the unlawful actions police, state troopers, and private security’s action towards other human beings; and with no repercussions by the federal government increases day by day.
It takes a lot of understanding, logic, and love; NOT hate our law enforcement, government, journalist, and the rest of society not awake to reality. I tolerate their tantrums, judgment, and misconceptions because they don’t know any better. We must teach and educate others to behave righteously. Veterans are leading by example and we hope the rest of the world will follow us.”

I will never forget how I felt across from Turtle Island, by the fire, while we were defending something that none of us could have ever imagined we would be defending in such an emotional way but so bold and strong. Her stories and her courage, gave me a sense of feminism at its core, not against man, but against THE man… The “white nation” we were built on here in Americas colonized land.
So many stories have been told about this Dakota access pipeline, from both sides, that to repeat them would be redundant. Those videos can be found at the stroke of a google search for those interested further in what all has transpired since the April start of all this.
What I want to focus on, is the fact that this, is different then any other anything that has ever happened in modern history. Mainly, because it is the exact same cycle that seems to keep repeating itself for these indigenous people. What separates this from others, is that the cycle is something Natives accept. They welcome transformation of sorts. They welcome new beginnings. Something we could learn a thing or two from.

I am here to tell you, from a personal standpoint, i’ve seen the people here. They are a beautiful and peaceful people as a whole who love prayer, fire, ceremony, ritual and most of all freedom from white mans colonization and oppression. We were told at orientations that there are over 600 tribes represented here at Standing Rock. WIth so many cultural diversity within the tribe as a whole but all following the same line of we are one and Earth is our Mother and she needs protection more the ever befoe.
This is a battle of good vs evil of sorts.
The Natives have prayer. It is so common for the natives, that to not pray would seem odd. That is how I felt from an outsiders perspective. Prayer if anything is given, is well needed and wanted, for those standing with standing rock right now. It takes a certain kind of person to stand on a side of history in the making and be on the most obvious side that is plaguing not only the United States, but the world. Corporate greed. Which is backed by an even more corrupt government. At least the corporations are blatantly telling the word they want higher profits. Even if they don’t want to admit it, it will wear the individual backing this perspective, or on their deathbed when they have the regrets playing in their minds as to the should haves, whould haves, could haves, but didn’tt. They can do things different and they can do it right here and right now! Sadly, are so far choosing not too.
There is an estimated 10k and rising everyday! A few thousands speculated to be on the way for the Veterans Standing and that is not including those who have came and went on short stays since April of 2016 when this all started and despite the governer’s executive order, the Army Corps of engineers, Morton County sheriff, or anyone in between that has been serving as pipeline protectors, needs to understand, this is bigger then us and it is bigger then them.
These people showing up are the ones awake to society(the majority).
We see what those who can’t, don’t, or just plain refuse, do not see.
But we will see as a mass. We cannot unsee once we have seen the hurt and trauma that we have caused Natives either directly or indirectly. There comes a time when the veil will come off with or without their permission because the truth is here and sometimes the truth hurts. For those who have passed through or still at Standing Rock, we know that when the orientation leaders said we have to be comfortable with being uncomfortable, it is well warranted. The truth is, we have supressed Native people for too long because we wanted to be more comfortable.

That came with a hefty price. A great suffering for an even GREATER NATION! One, that we in white America, didn’t have to pay, but our children will, unless we as a whole, step up and step out of our comfort zones. We can make a difference wherever we go including here at Cedar Creek.
There is a reason I choose the children I choose to come with me and there is a reason I was left with responsibility at home in Texas because truth be told, if I hadnt.. I wouldn’t have left the only home I have never felt more welcome at.. in North Dakota #StandingWithStandingRock
#MniWiconi
#StandWithStandingRock

#WaterISLife

Special Shout out to those who if hadn’t of contributed during this trip, it would not have happened, nor this article, or any in the future. Ricardo Picena, Celina Lopez, Frances Downing, Jennifer Harrison, Sarah Kay Carlson, Anne Liptak, Marcus Mitchell, Stephen William @ Always Sublime Photography and my husband and kids who follow in my footsteps no matter how far it takes us and still love me.

SUPER Special shout out to those still there fighting for our entire earth!

Ever wondered why the weather lately has been more extreme with the highs and lows? How we can have cold, rain, sleet, hail and beautiful, sunny heat all in the same week?

Have you ever wondered why the “weather in Texas” as it is so commonly referred to has went off the deep end in terms of extremes?

Have you noticed that there are strange “clouds” in the sky in the shape of lines, x’s or triangles that a little over 20 years ago were never there.

Wonder why the two are related??

One simple answer.

Chemtrails.

Chemtrail’s fall under the blanket of Geoengineering.

According to one of Nasa’s own, Geoengineering is “an attempt to avoid or reduce the negative consequences of climate change by directly altering parts of the Earth’s natural System,” said Riley Duran, Jet Propulsion Lab’s; Chief Systems Engineer for the Earth Science center and Tech Director. It was also said that “Geoengineering should be seen as a highly uncertain insurance policy or emergency response, not a solution” as well as, “It is not a cure. At best, it is a bandaid or tourniquet; at worst, It could be a self-inflicted wound.”

I don’t know about you readers, but I believe we as a generation of the last 100 years, has done enough damage to God’s Natural system.

Conspiracy theorists, like myself, believe that Geoengineering is the governments way of manipulating the weather to suit their needs.

But what needs might those be? I think that is the million dollar question.

According to geoengineeringwatch.org, Geoengineering is the artificial modification of the Earth’s climate systems through two primary ideologies. Solar Radiation Management or SRM and Carbon Dioxide Removal or CDR.

SRM is reducing the suns energy from making it all the way to the planets surface by carefully placing chemicals into the lower atmosphere to reflect the sunlight away. CDR is applying a type of “absorption” chemical to “clean up” the carbon from the atmosphere.

There have been countless studies by independent climate scientists, including Harmon Craig, Roger Revelle and Wallace Broecker. Scientist’s like these have concluded in their research, that we are in a time frame of irreversible damage by global warming from both the estimated climate cycles and the Carbon pollution we have contributed.

In the article, it speaks of the three days of grounded commercial flights. Data collected from approximately 4,000 weather stations across the continental United States concluded that in the three days following 9/11, there was a significant difference and increase of 1.8 degrees Celsius in the diurnal temperature, which is the difference between the daily maximum and minimum temperatures.

Not only was that due to the simple fact that there were not any emissions left by the Jet’s themselves, but with the fact that there were no chemtrails left behind by them either.

Texas, in the last almost two weeks, has been hit very hard, in the most devastating of ways, with extreme weather. We have even had numerous Tornado warnings here in the Lake area, hail and an extreme amount of water that has risen not only our lake level, but ponds, streams and honestly, anywhere that water shouldn’t be. All that are a bit unusual for this time of year; just like the unusually warm weather. Could it possibly be because not only has Texas rebuked and been very leery of Jade Helm 15, Refugees coming and seeking new homes here or being very against the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=52922#.VoYGjyDnZjo) or as it is commonly known, the New World Order that will go into effect Jan 1, 2016? We may never know, but it is more then a bit coincidental

How does this affect us here in the Cedar Creek Lake area?

Have you walked outside and looked up lately? Day or night, if you look up at what should be a beautiful lake view, you will see those lines, x’s and triangle shapes I spoke of earlier. Chemtrails, that are full of toxic chemicals, such as Chromium, Nickel, Nano aluminum coated fiberglass(or Chaff) and barium, are being sprayed directly above us. That affects our every day lives, not only in the patterns of the weather but in our health as well. These are chemicals that in the quantities it is being released in, can be deadly, under the right circumstances. Think about it, it falls on our food we grow, the water we drink and the air we breathe.

We may not be able to change it in the here and now, but you can make yourself aware of what is going on around you. Think outside the box. Question what is going on around you and especially things that you see with your own two eyes.

]]>https://thelifeofmy8.wordpress.com/2016/12/11/how-geoengineering-affects-cedar-creek-lakeand-everywhere/feed/0img_2808nicoles85Homeschooling In Cedar Creek Lake https://thelifeofmy8.wordpress.com/2016/12/11/homeschooling-in-cedar-creek-lake/
https://thelifeofmy8.wordpress.com/2016/12/11/homeschooling-in-cedar-creek-lake/#respondSun, 11 Dec 2016 02:23:32 +0000http://thelifeofmy8.wordpress.com/2016/12/11/homeschooling-in-cedar-creek-lake/Continue reading Homeschooling In Cedar Creek Lake ]]>Texas Education Agency states that in order to homeschool here, three things must be in order.

-The curriculum must include the five basic subjects of reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics and good citizenship.

However, the Cedar Creek Lake area, offers so much, to add to any families homeschooling journey.

Homeschooling here presents a unique opportunity for our kiddos. We have everything from the Texas Freshwater Fishery center in Athens, to Purtis Creek State Park In Eustace. Fun parks in each community. Historical markers can be found every few miles, several Farmers Markets(One in Payne Springs, that the man who owns, takes the time to talk and educate anyone who asks about farming) and a plethora of information at any one of our local libraries including Tri County Library in Mabank, to The Library at Cedar Creek Lake, in Seven Points, to learn from, no matter which side of the lake you find yourself on. That’s not including the fact that we have the best lake around!

For anyone interested in the homeschool life here around the lake, the best way is to meet up with other homeschool parents. I say parents because we have a lot of very active fathers, as well.

Andrew Tibbitts, father of 6 kiddos, ages 10, 7, 5, 3, 2 and 1, that he helps homeschool with his wife, Nicole, says one of the most basic and appreciated of all for us homeschool parents, “The biggest thing for me with homeschooling the children, is you get to see them grow. You also show them responsibility and help them grow up with a sense of accountability.” The foundation that every parents wants for their.

A lot of homeschoolers find themselves curious when they move to a new community or those who are interested in homeschooling, in general, as to where to start.

I suggest a co-op. A co-op is a “community opperative,” where likeminded families(either Religious, Secular, Homeschoolers to Unschoolers and everything in between)meet, usually once a week.

Our family is apart of three co-op’s. The one we frequent the most currently, based in Tool, is called Cedar Creek Lake Area Homeschoolers(can also be found on Facebook for those with an interest)

One week, at co-op, the kids could be learning a lesson, doing a craft, watching a movie, a party for a holiday, or just hanging out playing sports. Either way the kids AND parents love the time spent away from regular studies.

Parents who choose to homeschool their kiddos, usually for a wide varieties of reasons, find themselves doing hands on things themselves. Such as, but not limited too, Science classes in Gun Barrel, to Crochet classes(by Nicole Tibbitts)in Styx.

To give some background as to why us homeschool families choose this way of life, one mom, Katie Hughes, mom to 11 and 14 year old daughter’s, said “we are actively engaged all day. In a way that is not possible in a public school situation… we have the freedom to learn whatever, for however long it takes until you get that lovely, saturated brain feeling, that says ok, I know all I need to know about that, on to the next.”

Another local mom, Nicole Tibbits, said, ” Homeschooling changes your view of life, kids, marriage, all of it…Everything is about learning from every moment of everyday…there is no peer pressure to be, think, or act a certain way. We are purely us to the core.”

Shannon Songer stated something most of us parents who choose this way of life ask ourselves on a daily basis, “what was I thinking?” But quickly added, what most of us already know. “I wouldn’t change my decision…I made these critters…I enjoy them! We create together, love together and of course, we learn together.”

There are sceptics out there as well, including my own husband Garrett Sprabary. Up until about six months ago he was completely against us unschooling our daughters. (I’ll explain the difference in homeschool and Unschool in a later article). He stated, “At first I was against unschooling, until I realized how much more the kids have improved from being in public school, in more ways than one. They actually enjoy learning and with topics they choose to pursue . It gives them the opportunity to let their creative side show and allows them to further self educate in topics that are not taught in public school. The best part is we get to see every minute of it first hand. All in all, I wouldn’t change it for the world”

Children of any age, not in traditional school, have tons of opportunities outside the Cedar Creek Lake area, like State spelling bees, History bees, mathematic competitions and on and on, but it is a great stepping stone to build a solid, educational foundation for these kids to pursue whatever goals in life they have of becoming successful adults later.

The small towns we live in around the lake, really do band together to lift these kids up. Kuddos to you mom’s and dad’s who make the difficult and daring decision to go against the grain of society, to change our next generation’s way of learning and living. Keep up the good work!

When your at a place in your life when all you thought you ever wanted is here.

But then its not. It’s hard. It’s not at all what I anticipated.. it’s better…and worse at the same time.

What do you do?

Keep going? Push forward.. move on. Be here. Be in the moment. Live for today. I get it. We can only do what we can do.

But there has to be more..

More to this life then waking up to pay bills and then die…

When does life start?

When does the real meaning of life come into play? Or has it already?

I want the world to be happy. To be fullfilled. To be sane. To be loved. To be fixed.. to not feel broken. To not feel lost..

But how do I do that when at the core I am as broken as the next person?

Maybe broken and lost is exactly where I was meant to be. Maybe that IS my purpose. Maybe to be lost and broken is exactly where and what I was meant to be.. to show the power to overcome.

I mean.. if I can make it through ten years of some of the worst possible times of my life.. I can make it through this right?

Of course I can. And I will be doing so with the mentality that to be broken… Is to be perfect. To be lost… Is only a matter of perception.. my perception of being lost in this world is exactly where I want to be because to be found in this world, to me, would be a far greater disservice to myself because of what the world stands for.

I’m lost… Don’t Find me…

I’m broken… No need to tame..

I’m he’re… In this present moment..

To live. To laugh. To love.And finally.. To shine my light of broken and lostness… To show that to be broken and lost… Isn’t the end… It’s only the beginning of something…

When I think of death, I used to think of pain. Suffering. Agony. Something that was anything but what I wanted to do.

That fear ran my life. Always worried about being careful, or having nightmares about my kids passing.
I couldn’t ever get those thoughts out of my head.

But what if.. what if it actually happened and I lost a child? I couldn’t imaging that at this very moment. I have had miscarriages before.. some that were naturally induced and some that were at the hands of my ex husband.. and three that will carry an extra special place in my heart because they were fought for with everything my husband and I had, during our one and only chance at bearing life through IVF.

But I cannot even begin to process death. Is it end of life? Or just a transformation of what we are to become?

Will it hurt? Will it be majestic?

Some that have came back from being clinically gone, say it’s the most beautiful thing they have ever experienced. But if it’s the most beautiful thing… Why would they come back? Which makes me think if they came back, did they do it or was it out of their control? As to say maybe a higher power decided for them.

I talked to a friend earlier who pointed out that she feels as though she has lost her way because the loss of her Child.

I do not know the details of the loss, but what I do know it that it hurts her deeply. The grief of loosing someone is almost unbearable… But that grief I feel… Is most certainly something that is left to the survivors of the person.

My sister has lost her mom, and recently I almost lost my biological Father. She was the first one I messaged. I was going through a roller coaster of emotions. Why was he dying? Would it hurt him because of the how he dying?(COPD and Emphysema because of 35+ years of smoking) Will he make it to heaven? Or hell?

Once we pass, I don’t know if Heaven is exactly like the bible describes… But if it is, I can only imagine what I’d consider a small fragment of what the extent really is. So if our loved ones really are in heaven… That means they are at peace. And if they are at peace… Doesn’t it then make it clear they would want us at peace?

I believe that to be the case no matter where we go after passing. If our loved ones loved us as much as our grief shows that we loved them.. it’s a likely suggestion that they without a shadow of doubt in my mind, would want us to process our grief and then live the rest of our lives to the fullest.

My friend said that “Some how I just keep pushing forward, And when I look back I dont know how I got to where Im at. I feel he pushes me and keeps pushing me. I use to be some what like you in alot of ways, but I have lost my way, kinda like I lost myself when we lost Reggie. I dont know if Ill ever be the same person”

Are we ever the same person as the day before? My answer is no. But it doesn’t mean that it has to be a bad thing. We all have a conscious choice each and every day, to wake up, grab a hold of our life, and say not today. Today is MY day and I will live it to the fullest.

I pray that my friend finds her way. Her way back to something she made me seem that was better in ways. But I challenge that thought. Why make your way back to something when you can work your way towards something even greater!

We can make death become us and consume us in a way that our lives deteriorate… Or we can let the light inside all of us shine so bright, that we realize death is apart of us. Who we are as humans. Embrace it. And show love to the world despite it.

Love and Light

Namaste «» Love and Light «»

]]>https://thelifeofmy8.wordpress.com/2015/12/16/death-becomes-us/feed/0nicoles85IMG_22341463297154.jpegIMG_6740222553728.jpegAn open door, to a beautiful worldhttps://thelifeofmy8.wordpress.com/2015/12/16/44/
https://thelifeofmy8.wordpress.com/2015/12/16/44/#respondWed, 16 Dec 2015 03:33:37 +0000http://thelifeofmy8.wordpress.com/?p=44Continue reading An open door, to a beautiful world]]>

Helen Keller was a beautiful soul. A soul that knew the potential beauty of the world despite being blind and deaf.

She never gave up, she never stopped trying. No matter what obstacles presented themselves in her way.

She stated “When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door, that we do not see the one that has opened for us.”

Such profound words and yet so simple. We as humanity, have grown accustomed to coveting the next person’s “things” or “accomplishments”.. or something that we had, but think we lost.. not realizing that what we “lost,” may be the biggest blessing from God all along.

How do we rectify these things? How to we make the world a better place? How can one person, see an opportunity in the form of a door being opened in their life?

I have the most simple answer. We dont rectify. Or “fix” what has already been done. We change. We teach our next generation what we have learned from the last 100 years. In those short 100 years, we have managed to almost close a door on humanities existence.

How you may be thinking?? Look around you. Are we so cruel as to drive by humans each and every day that are hungry? That are without a soft spot to lay their head? That are in need.. of anything? As a collective group, we DO have the power to reverse and completely restore humanity. I have faith that my God is powerful and strong. The universe is a big place. I have faith, that in each and every human being we have the power to stand up and say enough is enough! But what next?

Do we argue with each other over small and subtle differences? Do we fight over huge differences because that difference makes us better? Or do we stop and realize that not only do we have the ability to see an open door for us that is open.. we have the power to open a door for someone else.

We don’t realize sometimes, how huge, but what we consider small and insignificant, our actions actually are… But think about it.. or better yet, try it. Open a door for someone else. Literally speaking OR figuratively. Smile and wave at your neighbor. Check on the elderly that live near you. Pick up that piece of trash as you walk by, or better yet, next time you think of throwing something out? Wait. Throw it away wherever your going, when you get there.

Remember, you have little people watching. And THAT is how we will change humanity. One person at a time. Think about it. A great future? Or a future of closed doors because we were too preoccupied to see what was right in front of us all along.

I never thought a decision to “Jump for the stars” in a random, ALMOST spur of the moment email, would land me my first Freelance Opportunity on a Website that covers the Lake Area where I live.

Unbeknownst to me, that is exactly what was about to unfold over the course of the next two days.

I was sitting in my chair, processing a lot of thoughts about where I am in life and knew there was something missing. I decided I was going to make the blog I had so longed for, to be able to express my random thoughts in my head. Just get them out on “paper”..

As soon as I was finished, I decided to head to my go too. Facebook, of course. My generations social media awesomeness! I came across an article about the Lake Area rising and thought that might be a great article to read since it had been raining in abundance and our own property was flooding up to our house in the backyard.

After reading it, I happened to glance at the top and something caught my eye. At the top it said, “Have a good story? Email here…” A thought occurred. Why not?!?! So I did. But it wasn’t about a story, it was to inquire about any freelance opportunities available.

I was nervous and a bit doubtful because I had no idea if this was the “way to ask” as well as, I have Zero experience on a professional level. Although I have written since I was in Elementary school and made straight A+’s on any and all things involving writing, I never imagined one small email could possibly change the course of my life. My children’s lives. But I feel, not to count my chickens before they hatch, that this marks a point, where a goal of mine has begun and that it will take me places that I want to go in life.

Now, I get to start the Biography, of who I am, What I am about, What I stand for and how I will “make the world” (or in my case, The Cedar Creek Lake area) a better place for those around me, and write about it on an amazing established website and set up my new “editor” account!

Wish me Light!

Namaste

Namaste «» Love and Light «»

]]>https://thelifeofmy8.wordpress.com/2015/12/14/my-first-freelance-opportunity/feed/0nicoles85IMG_25096768063226.jpegIMG_66907057926239.jpegOur unschooling life in a nutshellhttps://thelifeofmy8.wordpress.com/2015/12/13/a-rainy-morning/
https://thelifeofmy8.wordpress.com/2015/12/13/a-rainy-morning/#respondSun, 13 Dec 2015 15:33:26 +0000http://thelifeofmy8.wordpress.com/?p=33Continue reading Our unschooling life in a nutshell]]>

Unschooling by definition, is “A method of homeschooling that puts the desire, drive, motivation and responsibility for life -this thing we call learning or education – in the hands of the learner”

The simplest way to explain it in practical terms, is instead of homeschooling with a set curriculum 8 hours a day, we unschool as our way of life. Always learning, always searching for a “lesson” in anything and everything we do. In our circle, you will hear the term “child led” because it usually is. If the child has an interest in anything, it is our job as parents to provide the tools necessary for them to learn. Comparing to public schoolers, I have read numerous articles stating they would rather have homeschoolers because they usually have advanced knowledge vs. The set “standards” that public school teaches. When they compare homeschoolers to unschoolers, it seems, unschoolers are the preferred because of the ease of adaptability to new situations, as well as tend to learn easier in any circumstance and in more ways then just either, or, when it comes to visual, verbal, physical, logical, social, solitary, or aural. Unschoolers are also very independent learners, which is one of the most used terms I’ve heard or read in our circles.

Some examples of how we “unschool” if you use it in a literal term are, If we are on a trip to the grocery store, there is a lesson in math no matter if you ask questions before we get to the register such as “if we need 100 coat hangers and they are 10 per pack, how many packs do we need?” Once we get to the register, that is an obvious lesson and The kitchen poses a great deal of our math when it comes to measument as well.

Or, if we go to Grandma’s house and they see an old picture, maybe a history lesson.

Science? It helps when we have tons of books on awesome science experiments too.

Foreign languages?? My girls went to a “Japanese in a box” class that the Japan-American society put on in Forney awhile back. (I would LOVE to see more of those kinds of opportunities in the Cedar Creek area as well. We have some but it’s mostly what us mom’s put together)

I could go on and on and on but I’ll stop with the examples there. We weren’t always this way, March of Next year will be our two year mark.

As far as how prevalent it is in the lake area where I live?
I wish it were more but there are those of us here. I believe we all, or most that I know, unschool on some level, some a lot more extreme then others, but there are two unschool Co-op’s(community cooperative)one in Tyler and one in Dallas. There are several homeschool co-op’s as well. The biggest difference in the two are a set curriculum vs. The whole world as curriculum

(picture of Myself and my Zoe Bug )

Namaste «» Love and Light «»

]]>https://thelifeofmy8.wordpress.com/2015/12/13/a-rainy-morning/feed/0nicoles85images.jpegIMG_3085756663566.jpegOh my… my first blog..https://thelifeofmy8.wordpress.com/2015/12/12/oh-my-my-first-blog/
https://thelifeofmy8.wordpress.com/2015/12/12/oh-my-my-first-blog/#commentsSat, 12 Dec 2015 21:36:43 +0000http://thelifeofmy8.wordpress.com/?p=2Continue reading Oh my… my first blog..]]>I’ve always wanted to blog but never knew how to start. I find myself writing about my days in my text messaging to myself but now here I am… I don’t know what I hope to accomplish here other then to write out my thoughts. My hopes,my dreams,my wants,my fears, my current situations etc.

To start with my name is Nicole. I am 30 years old and find myself in a very interesting situation, 99% of the time. We all have our ups and downs in life but you see, I have 8 daughter’s. The most beautiful girls inside and out that I could have ever asked for. But my life is hectic. And sometimes…just sometimes..I need a break. Writing is it. I love to write. Not necessarily anything in particular… Just the words that are in my soul. I don’t say brain because I don’t exactly think that’s where they come from.

Which brings me to my next point, it’s raining, I’m sitting here in my oversized, comfy rocking chair with my incense burning and my Himalayan salt rock on. Very peaceful. I can hear 3 of my older girls tinkering In the kitchen making hot cocoa while my little one makes playful noises with her daddy, my husband. Man do I love him and hate him at the same time.

My soul is hurting right now and I need healing. Writing will be my venue for that healing.. it has to be. I stopped for so long and can feel myself drawing back to it. I have things to say and the world needs to hear.

I am a domestic violence survivor.

I am a rape survivor.

I am a survivor of numerous suicide attempts.

I am a survivor of an attempted murder..though they won’t call it that in the reports.. But I was there..

I am a woman who in my short 30 years, has been through a lot, some who would say a victim. But I don’t carry that victim mentality…

I carry hope

I carry peace.

I carry joy.

I carry love.

I carry experiences.

I carry life with me. I am here for a reason and that reason is to change the cycle of the negative mindset on any level of anyone listening, and for any reason.